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PCAL Publications Potter College of Arts & Letters

Spring 2013 Arts & Letters: The aM gazine of Potter College at Western Kentucky University David Lee, Dean Western Kentucky University, [email protected]

Kelly Scott, Managing Editor Western Kentucky University, [email protected]

Potter College of Arts & Letters, Western Kentucky University

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Recommended Citation Lee, Dean, David; Scott, Managing Editor, Kelly; and Potter College of Arts & Letters, Western Kentucky University, "Arts & Letters: The aM gazine of Potter College at Western Kentucky University" (2013). PCAL Publications. Paper 4. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/pcal_pubs/4

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Conflict and Compromise The American Political Experience President Barack Obama disembarks Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland in the early morning hours of Thursday, January 12, 2012, upon returning from in Chicago, Ill. on a campaign fundraising trip. Featured in the New York Times.

Photo by Luke Sharett, ‘13 http://www.lukesphoto.com/ • http://sharrett.blogspot.com/

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Welcome to our spring issue of Arts & Tim Broekema, the show highlights the pioneering Letters! Politics and public affairs have been work of Civil War photographers, with a particular the order of the day over the last several months, emphasis on photographs of the aftermath of the so in this issue we’d like to show you how Potter Battle of Antietam, perhaps the bloodiest single College is engaged in public discourse. Some of day in American history. Robert Dietle, head of that involvement focuses on politics, and Saundra the History Department, has provided concise Ardrey, head of the Political Science Department, will and informative captions for the images Tim has introduce you to the roles our students and faculty selected. All in all, Tim and Robert have given us played in the electoral process during the recent a remarkable window on the defining event of our Presidential campaign. In keeping with a political history. theme, our Alumni Spotlight focuses on cartoonist Not everything in Potter College is Whitey Sanders, who has spent a lifetime skewering happening close to home, however. The College our political leaders with his art and his wit. also continues to be part of the university’s Not all public discourse is political, and our “international reach,” and this issue lets you tag faculty and students are also deeply involved in the along on three remarkable international trips to cultural life of this region. Barren County native Britain, Cuba, and Ghana, where Potter College and English Department faculty member Wes Berry faculty and students studied politics, literature, talks about how our students move from the political and musical theatre. You’ll be intrigued by what to the personal and from a global view to local they’ve learned! concerns. It’s been an eventful several months in Potter This issue will also give you a glimpse of a College, and I think you’ll enjoy this issue of Arts tremendous gallery show of Civil War photographs & Letters! that were displayed in Mass Media & Technology Hall. Curated by Photojournalism faculty member DAVID D. LEE, Dean Potter College of Arts & Letters

Photographed in the new Academic Commons, FAC 166 Contents The Magazine of Potter College at Western Kentucky University Spring 2013 | Vol. 4 | No. 1 Message from the Dean ...... Left David Lee MANAGING EDITOR Kelly Scott Communications Coordinator Potter College of Arts & Letters The Election Season COPY EDITORS Experiencing the Democratic Process First Hand ...... Stacey Biggs Karen Schneider 4 Chief Marketing Officer Emeritus Professor Saundra Ardrey Office of Public Affairs Department of English

ART DIRECTOR Tom Meacham Photographs of a Nation Divided ...... 8 DESIGNERS Mac McKerral Marcus Dukes Moriah Dixon Scott French Davide Fellini Carmen Herrera Stephen Gray Stefan Anderson Bret Heffner The Real Work: PHOTOGRAPHERS Catalyzing Civic Engagement ...... Clinton Lewis 14 Bryan Lemon Wes Berry

WRITERS Jo-Ann Huff Albers Mac McKerral Saundra Ardrey Walter Rutledge Wes Berry Ed Yager Alumni Spotlight Jordan Campbell Bill “Whitey” Sanders ...... 18 MAGAZINE ADVISORY COUNCIL Jo-Ann Huff Albers Brent Bjorkman Jennifer Markin Jennifer Bryant Julie Pride Luke Jean Jennifer Mize Smith Liza Kelly London School of Economics ...... 20

Like Potter College on Facebook! Edward Yager

Read Arts & Letters online www.wku.edu/pcal/magazine Look for this application at the App Store! Study Abroad About the Cover Unable to capture the movement of battle, WKU in Cuba ...... 22 photographers who accompanied the armies soon developed an outdoor version of the studio Walker Rutledge photograph. These carefully arranged tableaux of officers, men, and equipment were photographed by James Gibson in the spring of 1862 during the Studying Musical Theatre in Ghana ...... 25 Army of the Potomac’s Peninsular Campaign. Jordan Campbell Inside Cover Photo Photo by Luke Sharrett

Arts & Letters is published semiannually for members Arts & Letters Departments of the public interested in the Potter College of Arts & Letters at Western Kentucky University. It is produced by News from PCAL Departments ...... 28 the Potter College Dean’s Office and the WKU Division of Public Affairs. Western Kentucky University 1906 College Heights Blvd. Bowling Green, KY 42101-1026 International Research Notes ...... 32

ARTS & LETTERS 3 SPRING 2013 Western Kentucky University is an equal opportunity institution of higher education and upon request provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. www.wku.edu/eoo. © Western Kentucky University 2013 Printing paid for from state funds, KRS 57.375 CTIO LE N E

SEASON Experiencing the Democratic Process First Hand

BY DR. SAUNDRA ARDREY

ARTS & LETTERS 4 SPRING 2013 Election 2012 was a time of political and social turmoil that pitted Republicans against Democrats, conservatives against liberals; it may have been a rollicking, helter skelter time for the American people, but for the Department of Political Science it was magical. This election year, as during every presidential election, students of the political process merged theory with practical application. While the political science curriculum introduces students to such concepts as participation and democratic theory, in an election year they get to experience those concepts at work. Student registering for the first time celebrates with Dr. Gary Ransdell and Big Red. The election cycle began for WKU students at the Republican and Democratic conventions in August. Partnering with the Warren County Republican Party, But by far the biggest and most significant event Political Science professor Scott Lasley escorted was September 25, National Voter Registration Day. In a group of students to Tampa, Florida, where 2008, six million Americans told the U.S. Census that they survived both political and hurricane-force they did not vote because they did not know how to winds. WKU students were there as Clint Eastwood register or they missed their state’s voter registration scolded the empty chair and as Ann Romney shared deadline. Students in the Political Science Senior the qualities she most admired in her husband. Seminar set out to make sure no student was left out of Department chair Saundra Curry Ardrey took students the 2012 election. With the help of Spirit Masters, Big to Charlotte, N.C., for the re-nomination of President Red and President Gary Ransdell, they registered over Obama. Political Science student Chelsea Cornett 1800 students. interned with the DNC and received unprecedented Presidential transitions in the United States are access to the Convention floor. noted for the relative ease with which the transfer of The Department, working with the Political executive power and leadership is accomplished. We Engagement Project, ignited student participation witness a radical shift in focus – from campaigning with the theme “What’s your tag?” We partnered with to governing by an incoming administration. As Housing and Residence Life, Student Government William Galston and Elaine Kamarck point out in “The Association, the Office of Diversity Programs, and Transition: Reasserting Presidential Leadership,” “The academic units to engage students from across peaceful transfer of power from one President to the the campus community in the excitement of the next is an enduring and gripping drama of American campaign season. The library presented exhibits democracy.” (See Mandate for Change, ed. Will Marshall on the Constitution and on American presidential and Martin Schram). elections. The School of Journalism and Broadcasting, Every four years the department of political science the Department of Political Science, and the Institute offers an opportunity to experience that drama. On for Citizenship and Social Responsibility presented a January 19, led by political science professors Saundra live musical and multi-media presentation about the Curry Ardrey and Roger Murphy, a group of 41 WKU First Amendment and music subjected to censorship students, faculty, staff and community folk traveled or bans. Hundreds of students turned out for Debate through the night to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Watch, a festival of music, food and information. In Sunday at midday. First stop, a trip to the Hill to pick up addition to procuring literature informing vote choice, inauguration tickets, provided by Senators Rand Paul students engaged in several fun activities such as and Mitch McConnell and Congressman Brett Guthrie. sumo wrestling, a water balloon fight, and adding their We expected long lines just like four years ago, but what opinions to a graffiti mural. Senator Rand Paul shared a difference a second term makes. There was a line, his views with students, and College Republicans and but it did not circle the block. There was excitement Democrats debated issues. in the crowd, but the euphoria of 2008 was noticeably

ARTS & LETTERS 5 SPRING 2013 The pageantry and the feeling of “we’ism” were the perfect antidote to a cantankerous election season.

ARTS & LETTERS 6 SPRING 2013 WKU faculty and students at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial absent. After picking up tickets, math professor Peter Early the next morning the group took a tour Hamburger and his wife, Edit, and M.P.A. graduate of Washington, D.C., monuments before meeting student Alex Burton made a mad dash to the Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. “Isn’t it something that just Democratic Party reception hosted by Governor and regular people can discuss issues and express their Mrs. Steve Beshear. opinions with an elected official? Guess that’s what Monday morning, Inauguration Day, started early. democracy is all about,” exclaimed M.P.A. graduate The swearing in ceremony was at 11 a.m., but with assistant Tim Gilliam. Students spent the remainder of the day exploring the capital on their own. Wednesday morning, exhausted but filled with memories, we headed back to campus and to the beginning of the semester. Next inauguration, come join us. But you don’t have to wait four more years. There’s always something exciting going on in the Department of Political Science. Contact the department at (270) 745-4558 to get engaged. It’ll be awesome!

WKU students photographed with Senator Rand Paul standing tickets we knew we had to get there early to secure our spots. The tickets put some of us close to the stands, some just behind the seated section, and a few further back just beyond the reflecting pool. Some could see the stage but most had to depend on the Jumbotron. None of this mattered very much because we were witnessing the peaceful transfer of power. The pageantry and the feeling of “we’ism” were the Daven Florence and Saundra Ardrey in front of the Capitol perfect antidote to a cantankerous election season. at the Swearing In ceremony on Monday, January 21. Among the crowd of half a million, there was a shared sense that no matter who won, despite fights and debates, this was a time to come together to celebrate In her twelfth year as chair of the Political our democracy and to hope for a better tomorrow. Science Department at Western Kentucky University, After six hours of standing, though tired, we were Dr. Ardrey conducts research on the political not ready to leave. The parade was yet to come. A participation of women and minorities. Her areas of few hours later, there they were: the President and expertise include African American Studies, media and First Lady waving, smiling and walking past us on politics, campaign management and public opinion. Pennsylvania Avenue. Later that night, it was time for A graduate of Winston-Salem State University and music and dancing at one of the official Inauguration The Ohio State University, she is recognized as a Balls. Political Science majors David Williams media analyst for both local and state media outlets. and Allison Feikes donned their tux and gown, In addition to university teaching and administrative respectively, for the Commander-in-Chief Ball. As responsibilities, Dr. Ardrey is active in local politics and they awaited the arrival of the first couple, Allison and community activities. As one of the co-founders and David were entertained by Alicia Keyes, John Legend co-directors of the WKU Institute for Citizenship and and others. Still later in the night, the two watched as Social Responsibility, Dr. Ardrey is a much sought after Michelle and Barack Obama danced on stage. Allison speaker and commentator and has received numerous said, “The night was amazing. I’m a Republican but awards and honors, including Outstanding People of this was worth the trip.” the 21st Century.

ARTS & LETTERS 7 SPRING 2013 Allan Pinkerton (seated to the right) Photographs and his associates (from the left) George H. Bangs, R. William Moore, John C. Babcock and Augustus K. of a Nation Littlefield in front of a tent in Antietam. Pinkerton, best known for his Pinkerton National Divided Detective Agency that prospered BY MAC MCKERRAL after the war, also gained praise for foiling an assassination attempt on President Lincoln in 1861.

ARTSARTS && LETTERSLETTERS 88 SPRINGSPRING 20132013 on a budget wish list for The Gallery when MMTH opened more than a decade ago, but that request did not make the budget. The Gallery used portable walls from the Kentucky Museum in the interim, but got its walls this academic year. Exhibit planning that started in August moved quickly, and from Jan. 3 until the exhibit officially opened Jan. 23, it became Broekema’s full-time job, he commented. abriel Sudbeck sat motionless on a black- One set of walls went up, but invisible walls that lacquered bench in the Mass Media & Technology sometimes separate disciplines came down. The Hall Gallery, staring intently at a flat-panel monitor success of this collaborative effort between History mounted on the back wall. A soothing instrumental and Photojournalism pleased the Dean of the Potter arrangement flowed from wall-mounted speakers, College of Arts & Letters, Dr. David Lee. “They are but the images on the screen appeared mottled not really [geographic] neighbors,” Lee said about and blurred. But the freshman history major from the history faculty housed in “historic” Cherry Hall Omaha, Neb., wore a special set of cheesy looking, and the School of Journalism & Broadcasting in yet fully functional paper-framed glasses with red- MMTH, a building that is part of WKU’s “modern” cyan anaglyph lenses that transformed the blur into Civil War photographs in 3-D. Sudbeck described the images as “spectacular.” His description mirrors the reaction from hundreds who have taken in The Gallery and Atrium exhibit “Witness: Photographs of a Nation Divided,” the work of nine Civil War photographers and the 3-D presentation. Since the exhibit’s opening night reception on Jan. 23, students, faculty, Warren County residents, and school kids bussed in from throughout Kentucky and from Indiana and Illinois have gleaned a deeper, visually powerful understanding of the horrors of the Civil War and the photos taken to report on it.

And why did Sudbeck, who wants to teach, Allan Pinkerton, director of the Secret Service, in camp after choose a history major? “I think it is the stories,” the Battle of Antietam. For President Lincoln, Pinkerton was really the head of intelligence gathering for the Civil War. They he said. “I read history and I think, ‘Wow, how did unofficially called it the Secret Service. the people pull these things off?” The adage “Great minds think alike” seems to fit when the exhibit’s history. And Lee said the strategic location of The creative director and editor talks about its purpose. Gallery also elevated the exhibit’s profile for the “[The exhibit] is not about the history of the Civil community: “When [MMTH] was built, it was meant War,” said Tim Broekema, associate professor in to be an entryway to campus,” Lee said. “And then the Photojournalism Department in the School of to have the exhibit in two [groupings], the Atrium Journalism & Broadcasting. “It’s about the pictures of and The Gallery — people see one part and make a the Civil War. The photographers had a story to tell.” mental note to come back to see the other.” With the exhibit up and running, Broekema took With this high ground secured, “General” time to reflect on how it came together, drawing on Broekema began enlisting the troops he needed to another adage: “How does that expression go, ‘Be get the exhibit completed by the start of spring term. careful what you wish for.’” He put portable walls Jonathan Adams, a professional in residence in the

ARTS & LETTERS 9 SPRING 2013 Above photographs left to right: In September 1862, Photojournalism program during fall 2012, began Mathew Brady sent two of his photographers – Alexander digging through historical photo archives and Gardner and James Gibson – to the battlefield at Antietam, where the Army of the Potomac had blunted Robert E. Lee’s pulled approximately 100 images, Broekema said. first invasion of the North and forced his army back across the Adams showed Broekema accounts about how Potomac river into Virginia. The battle had exacted a horrible many photographers shot the Civil War in 3-D, and toll. Sept. 17, 1862, remains the bloodiest single day in the nation’s history. Total casualties for some 12 hours of fighting Broekema acquired the 3-D show from the Center reached 23,000, including approximately 4,000 dead. for Civil War Photography. “It was cutting-edge

Gardner and Gibson reached Antietam within two days of technology,” Broekema said about stereography. the end of the battle as work crews were only beginning According to Broekema, the real challenge the grim job of clearing the ground of thousands of bodies, came with establishing for the exhibit a both human and animal. Within a few days, working with the awkward photographic technology of the time, they had photographer’s must — focus. One of his captains, produced some of the most riveting images in the history Dr. Robert Dietle, head of the History Department, of photography, becoming the first to photograph the dead on an American battlefield and the first to bring images of a provided that. “[Robert] asked, ‘Why not arrange historical event to the American public. A notice of a gallery it by photographers?’” Broekema said, “That was show by Mathew Brady appeared in the New York Times on a great idea.” Dietle remarked, “That was my Oct. 6, less than three weeks after the battle itself. With a simple sign hanging in the window of Brady’s New York City one contribution…” although a stack of books on gallery, titled “The Dead of Antietam,” Gardner’s and Gibson’s the Civil War piled on a table in his Cherry Hall work was put on display for all to see. Crowds of people office suggested otherwise. “Photojournalism and responded and made their way to the second-floor gallery to get a glimpse of the images. A reporter described “crowds photojournalists — Civil War photographers were of people constantly going up the stairs” of Brady’s studio the first. They took photography out of the studio,” at Broadway and Tenth where “hushed, reverend groups standing around these weird copies of carnage, bending he added. down to look in the pale faces of the dead, chained by the Dietle got drawn into the battle because strange spell that dwells in dead men’s eyes.” the department’s expert on the Civil War and Although no record exists for what photos were on display, Reconstruction, Glenn W. LaFantasie, associate this wall represents what images the Brady gallery may professor, went on sabbatical. Dietle admitted have shown. However, the images were most likely carte de visites (small, cardboard mounted images no bigger than that when it came to Civil War history within his 5-by-7 inches). Thanks to modern-day printing techniques, academic career, he had been in full retreat. “I’m we were able to reproduce these images to more than someone in 18th century Europe,” Dietle admitted. 500% their original size. — Federal troops commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside fought a bitter three-hour “I’ve been avoiding the Civil War all my life. But I battle to cross Burnside Bridge over Antietam Creek. They knew where to go to find what I needed.” Dietle finally captured it at 1 p.m., Sept. 17, 1862, but the fierce said that Civil War photographer Mathew B. Confederate resistance gave General Robert E. Lee time to reinforce his battle lines. (LOC Gardner) Brady early on recognized the value of historical

ARTS & LETTERS 10 SPRING 2013 Slave auction house on Whitehall Street, Atlanta, Georgia. (LOC George Barnard) — Lewis Powell (1844-1865) carried out a savage but unsuccessful attempt to kill Secretary of State William Seward, who was bedridden from injuries suffered in a carriage accident. Executed on July 5, 1865. (LOC Alexander Gardner) — This unusual shot of the unfinished Capitol also suggests the ‘unfinished’ condition of the entire city of Washington, D.C., at the time of the Civil War. (LOC Mathew Brady) photography, and he took portraits of many photojournalism major from Georgetown, helped prominent Americans. In fact, Brady acknowledged Wolffbrandt break down the previous exhibit to that. “From the first, I regarded myself as under make room for the new and then helped paint. “I obligation to my country to preserve the faces am not a huge fan of war,” Wolffbrandt admitted. of its historic men and mothers,” Brady told “I was not really interested in it.” But Wolffbrandt reporters of the day. Dietle offered Broekema 12 said the knowledge he gained transitioned the names of influential Civil War photographers. hard work into a “pretty cool” experience. And Broekema whittled those down to eight he contributed more than just grunt work based on the quality of images, content and assigned to a draftee. The exhibit photos photojournalism integrity, he said. A ninth taken by Alexander Gardner of President photographer eventually joined the list. Abraham Lincoln’s assassination conspirators Broekema then turned to fine-tuning his really struck him, Wolffbrandt said. “I talked battle plan. “I had proofs taped all over the ‘B’ into using all of them — six portraits and a walls of my office,” he said. “There were 16 gallows image.” A tough idea to sell? “He loved different ways to arrange the walls, and that it,” Wolffbrandt said with a grin. [arrangement] affects your decisions on the Dr. Lee found all the photos compelling, images.” Broekema offered some insight into even though he admits to looking at them his vision for the exhibit during the opening in a way others might not — away from the night reception. “My purpose here was to design photographer’s center of focus. “What the road a gallery that celebrated the image,” he told looked like, what kind of shoes people are attendees “Not that we did not pay attention to wearing,” Lee said, the slices of everyday life the history. Here, the image takes center stage. that can add to historical perspective caught The images on display here are truly beautiful his attention. Lee observed during his opening and horrific storytelling pictures.” night keynote that the exhibit demonstrated Broekema drafted Adam Wolffbrandt, a the potential of photography to tell stories, and senior photojournalism major from Lexington, to those images in turn brought to 19th-century turn digital images into gallery prints. Wolffbrandt Americans a major event in an unprecedented spent 65 hours just on scanning, toning and way. Brady hit on the idea of assembling a team to printing, he reported. Bria Granville, a sophomore photograph the war, Lee explained. “At enormous

ARTS & LETTERS 11 SPRING 2013 Private Francis E Brownell, 11th New York Infantry, killed the Virginia innkeeper who fatally shot Brownell’s leader, Col. Elmer Ellsworth, after he entered the establishment to remove a Confederate States of America flag which was flying above it. Brownell eventually received the Medal of Honor for his actions; the flag, stained with Ellsworth’s blood, is at his feet. (LOC Mathew Brady)

ARTS & LETTERS 12 SPRING 2013 cost — approximately $100,000 — he hired 18 examined the possible reasons why someone photographers, provided each of them with a might manipulate the images, she explained. “For mobile studio in a covered wagon and sent them propaganda? For financial gain?” Cartwright said. out to photograph the war.” “You can really study the mood, the point of view. Lee also said during the keynote that We had some wonderful discussions.” photographer Samuel Cooley served as a contract Back in the gallery, Sudbeck discussed his worker with Gen. William T. Sherman’s troops, plans to teach history in high school. And like Lee, making him perhaps the first “embedded” he drew an everyday life lesson from the exhibit. photographer—not that Sherman held any great It came from the exhibit’s side-by-side photos love for journalists. “If I had my choice I would kill of Lincoln, Sudbeck said. The photo on the left every reporter in the world, but I am sure we would — taken in Springfield, Ill., on Aug. 13, 1860, by be getting reports from hell before breakfast,” Preston Butler when Lincoln was a presidential Sherman once said. candidate — might be the last beardless photo

Although Gardner and Gibson recorded a number of portraits during the time of Lincoln’s visit in October, the duo made only two such images during their earlier visit in Sept. This one of Brig. Gen. John C. Caldwell and his staff was made on September 21, 1862. Caldwell’s brigade was one of three brigades that fought at Bloody Lane. Caldwell wrote in his report, “During the entire day all the members of my staff were incessantly active, and did most valuable service,” said Caldwell. This image is shown in its full stereoscope version.

Another WKU faculty member and historian of him. The photo on the right — taken on Feb. drew a different lesson from the exhibit. Dr. Ingrid 5,1865, by Alexander Gardner — might be the last Cartwright, assistant professor of art history, taught photo taken of Lincoln alive. The juxtaposition “HON 300: The Small Picture: Art and Microhistory,” articulates the physical toll exacted on Lincoln an interdisciplinary Honors Colloquium that while serving as president during the nation’s examined meaningful issues found by studying art bloodiest era. “Yeah, when I am having a bad day and history on a micro scale. The first class met at — things aren’t going right — I think, ‘Lincoln had it the exhibit opening night, and the class met in The a lot worse than me,’” Sudbeck said. Gallery later that week, Cartwright said. Mac McKerral is an associate professor and Students focused on a debate about two News-Editorial coordinator in the School of Journalism photographs made for “Gardner’s Photographic & Broadcasting. His bachelor’s degree is in secondary Sketch Book of the War,” considering whether they education-history from Arizona State University. His truly represented documentary images or had been favorite class was Civil War and Reconstruction. staged by photographers. Cartwright’s students

ARTS & LETTERS 13 SPRING 2013 The Real Work: Catalyzing Civic Engagement BY WES BERRY

Left: Potter College students Hannah Morris and Nick Asher plant mustard greens at WKU GROWS. Center: Asher saws through a log while preforming trail work in the South Warner Wilderness in Northeastern California. Right: Asher prepares a bed at WKU GROWS.

One great pleasure of teaching is watching ecological challenges. Associate Dean and Religious students develop into engaged and responsible Studies professor Larry Snyder gave a guest lecture citizens. The Potter College curriculum cultivates on religion and ecology in conjunction with our a whole individual, liberates the mind, and fosters reading of Leslie Marmon Silko’s novel “Ceremony.” skills such as communication, problem solving, Rural sociologist Doug Smith guest lectured on and analysis to help students navigate our fast- issues in his field, a good complement to our reading changing, complex world. We don’t necessarily of Kentucky writer Wendell Berry’s essays on culture train students in a narrowly defined specialty; and agriculture. Michael Pollan’s multidisciplinary instead, we tend to be about the big picture. In the analysis of our food systems, “The Omnivore’s face of massive challenges across the globe, this Dilemma,” inspired some students to become cultivation of an intelligent, reasonable, humane involved in food activism. From Bill McKibben’s citizenry is vital, urgent work. book, “Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered A special topics honors English course I taught Age,” students encountered a philosophical take on in 2007, “Literature, Culture, & Environment,” is but advances in robotics, nanotechnology, and genetic one example of how PCAL coursework illuminates engineering. We attended a Kentucky Author the connections between the local and the global, Forum at The Kentucky Center for the Performing the personal and the political. The course goal was Arts in Louisville to hear Wendell Berry and Bill to study human ecology from various fields of study, McKibben converse on big problems like climate such as religion, history, economics, anthropology, change. We visited the farm of Andrew Habegger in psychology, and of course, literature. We read Allen County to learn about community-supported economist Lester Brown’s “Plan B: Rescuing a agriculture. We read Richard Louv’s “Last Child Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble” in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature- for an overview of worldwide economic, social, and Deficit Disorder”—a study of how today’s youth

ARTS & LETTERS 14 SPRING 2013 are often disconnected from the outdoors and the Nick Asher (2011) Major: English Creative implications of this for conservation—and took an Writing; Minor: Sustainability overnight backcountry camping trip and wild cave American Studies marked a turning point in tour in Mammoth Cave National Park. I required both my academic career and activist life. Before students to venture out into the woods and sit alone American Studies I knew some information about for one hour. Later I asked them to write about the various environmental problems--such as peak experience. Several told me they’d never spent that oil, excessive pollution, and anthropogenic climate much time alone outdoors before. change--facing America and the world, but knew The students valued the challenging material, little about how and what was being done to reverse multi-disciplinary approach, seminar-style class or halt their effects and did not understand the discussions, and field trips—the real-world utility of interconnections among all of the problems. The our learning—and I rank the course high on my life coursework, discussions and readings of this class list of edifying educational experiences. not only helped me to understand the scope of these I recently contacted some of my politically problems but also taught me something much more involved students—former and current—to valuable--how the problems were interrelated. Peak ask how what they learn in Potter College has oil is a problem, but much more so if all of your influenced their community work. Some credit the food comes from across the world; this excessive aforementioned course and writings encountered transportation leads to more pollution, which then in my Kentucky Literature course for inspiration. further throws the climate out of balance, which (The Commonwealth has been home to many then affects virtually all life on this planet. firebrand writers, including Robert Penn Warren, America and the world at large face many James Still, Harriette Arnow, Harry Caudill, Wendell problems, but upon further consideration, they can Berry, Jim Wayne Miller, Bobbie Ann Mason, Barbara all be condensed into one: most of us no longer live Kingsolver, Erik Reece, and Silas House.) Others locally. American Studies helped me to connect the were fired up by an American Studies course on the dots by viewing America’s environmental problems topic “Land, Nature, Wilderness,” a multidisciplinary through a host of different lenses--historical, literary, collaboration of Tony Harkins (history), Roger and political--and to follow their progression Murphy (political science), yours truly (English), and through time to the present. thirty students from various disciplines. University One of the standout moments of this class, budgets don’t often allow for team-taught courses which I still think of often, occurred when we across disciplines, and that’s unfortunate, as the were discussing Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s students and professors were enriched by the Dilemma,” which follows meals from three different exposure to different disciplinary “ways of knowing,” sources from beginning to end: conventional or as some of these student testaments reflect. industrial agriculture, organic agriculture, and

Potter College student Nick Asher poses with his study abroad group after planting a tree at a local school near Auroville in India, where Mr. Asher studied abroad. ARTS & LETTERS 15 SPRING 2013 foraging. One of the professors asked if anyone firm believer in using words as a tool for change. knew what was in season currently. This was Throughout my college career, I have worked around October, and a quick trip to the farmer’s closely with an on-campus organization (WKUAID) market would have easily shown what could be to encourage fair trade and local food practices. grown in our side of the world at that time of year, Two years ago, with the signature of President Gary but no one was able to answer. This moment struck Ransdell, our organization deemed WKU an official me deeply because it showed how out of touch even Fair Trade University, thus establishing a committed educated Americans are with their food system. goal toward fair trade access and education on Wendell Berry puts it succinctly: After this moment, campus. That year, I served as the Press Coordinator, writing press releases for events that promoted fair trade. As the years passed, the organization added “Our model citizen is a sophisticate more emphasis on promoting local food practices. I who, before puberty, understands created a guide that informed students where local food can be easily purchased around Bowling Green. how to produce a baby, but who at As a journalism major, I have also used my passion for environmentalism to write informatively the age of thirty will not know how about issues I believe need more awareness, such as Appalachian mountaintop removal and WKU Office to produce a potato.” of Sustainability events. My classes have helped me hone in on what makes for good, persuasive and each discussion held a higher meaning for me; I informative writing in a way that delivers the most wanted to learn more about what it meant to live meaning in the most concise way possible. sustainably in our world. So, during the course and Additionally, my literature courses have enabled afterwards I took action: I learned more about me to examine social issues I am passionate about the specific problems of mountain top removal, through the varying lenses of great writers through burning coal, habitat destruction, and lack of good the ages: William Faulkner, Gary Snyder, Zora Neale old food knowledge, and traveled to Washington, Hurston, and Mary Wollstonecraft (just to name a D.C., and Frankfort to protest and learn more few). Studying these authors and their works has about all of the above. I was animated to change led to a greater understanding of social issues and our world and the ecological and cultural empowered me to act in my community. Finally, I problems facing it, and I had a background with have always felt that literature is a way to connect which to examine each of the problems critically human souls to one another and to understand each and strategically. If it weren’t for the Potter other’s suffering or strife. And I know that if we can College of Arts and Letters, my activist career at all just feel a little more connected, we will act to WKU and afterward would not look the same. I help one another out by whatever means possible. would not have become as active in food politics Graduating from Potter College will arm me with and certainly would not have worked so hard to create WKU GROWS, the college’s first student- run organic garden. My time spent in Cherry Hall taught me to think critically, and this ever-valuable skill shaped me as an activist.

Elizabeth Beilman (2013) Majors: Literature and News/Editorial Journalism As an English and journalism major, I find a very clear connection between language and activism. I have repeatedly learned in my Potter College courses the true power of words when they are employed well. The English language has an immense and wide effect on people’s behavior, understanding, Potter College students Matt Vaughan, Joey Coe, and ability to connect with one another. I am a Nick Asher, and Hannah Morris start transplants that will be used at WKU GROWS, WKU’s first student-run organic garden. ARTS & LETTERS 16 SPRING 2013 the tools necessary to change what needs to be nonfiction helped me more than anything to changed in the way I know best: with words. work through some of those experiences and to understand what my role can be in the world Tracy Jo Ingram (2013) Major: English around me. Literature; Minors: Women’s Studies & I’ve long had an interest in sustainability, and I Creative Writing began college working with a student group on the I could speak endlessly about how my fair trade campaign for WKU. I took the sustainable education has influenced my interest in and gardening class at the WKU Farm as well as the pursuit of social justice. In particular, the local food colloquium. These were wonderful but Kentucky Literature course sparked my interest in very separate experiences until I took Survey of environmental and food justice issues. Reading the American Literature II and read “The Grapes of works of Wendell Berry led me to a philosophy of Wrath.” That book in particular, in conjunction and commitment to a local economy, as well as with “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” gave me a history the decision to learn the ways of homesteading. and a direction for my food justice activism. It let Since then I’ve begun training in beekeeping and me know that my personal leanings and the small gardening. I have also become involved with collectives of young people springing up to work on Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, participating this problematic food system were not unfounded, in land reform protests and mountaintop removal that we weren’t isolated stars but part of a larger policy reform in both Frankfort and Washington, constellation that sent its first rays of light long ago. D.C. Currently, I am in the process of applying for In a more general but no less important sense, several post-graduate programs and fellowships what classes in English have done is open me up related to such matters, such as FoodCorps and to the validity of others’ experiences and to active AmeriCorps NCCC. reflection on my own. This is simple and radical. Aside from our study being the gateway to Literature woke up my awareness, even through understanding history, political patterns, diverse the vast and foggy sea of the information age, and points of view, and traditions, it is a critical when I found I was awake, activism was inevitable. means to comprehending human relationships and to developing interpersonal intuitiveness. Amen. Such clear-minded eloquence and My education in English has also led me to bighearted visions make me mighty proud. understand the value of the human narrative, These students give me hope and confirm my therefore expanding my awareness of multi- belief in the value of a holistic education in the cultural issues. As I go on to pursue a Masters in things that matter. Public Administration/Non-Profit Management, such skills, resources, and knowledge will be Wes Berry is Associate Professor of English, entirely indispensable. Director of Graduate Studies, author of “The Kentucky Barbecue Book” (2013), and host of WBKO Go Local, Meg Kennedy (2013) Major: Literature; a regional segment of the television show The Local Minors: Sociology & Women’s Studies Traveler. Inspired by Kentuckian Wendell Berry and People often ask me why I study literature. other writers, artisans, farmers and educators who Inherent in that question is a sense that reading foster a vision of living in a just, humane, healthy and can do something only internally and only for peaceable world, Wes and his wife Elisa raise animals the reader. From my experience, that isn’t true. and vegetables for personal consumption on a small Southern Literature taught me to take pride in homestead near the Green and Barren rivers. where I live, taught me that there is something beautiful about this place, and that it’s okay for me to love it and want to fix it, and to think it’s worth the fixing. That’s why I joined Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, worked for voter registration in this region, and have done service work on mountaintop removal sites in Eastern Kentucky. A writing course with an emphasis on creative- Wes Berry and Bill Jackson

ARTS & LETTERS 17 SPRING 2013 Alumni Spotlight: Bill “Whitey” Sanders

BY JO-ANN HUFF ALBERS

Western Kentucky University is a magnet for Q. Your editorial cartoons have appeared in countless Bill “Whitey” Sanders. Over the years has newspapers and magazines. In all the years, of all the projects, been drawn to campus frequently, especially what was your favorite and why? to annual Homecoming reunions with his old “My passion was civil rights, civil liberties. It was a social battlefield football team. He has thought a lot about WKU that I relished. I thought media needed to be aggressive in the last year as he worked on his memoirs supporters of civil rights.” to be published in the spring by New South Books. Its title, “Against the Grain,” is an apt Q. Who has expressed the most anger at one of your cartoons metaphor for the editorial cartoonist’s career. In and why? a recent telephone conversation, Whitey Sanders “As far as politicians were concerned, Strom Thurmond responded to questions about his involvement and Richard Nixon. Most of the vitriol I received was from with WKU and his work. organizations like the John Birch Society and the Minutemen in the Kansas City area. I was in their crosshairs for years.”

Q. What did you enjoy most about your time at WKU? Q. Is there any one cartoon you’d take back if you could, and why? “It grounded me in a time when I needed to be grounded.

I needed what Western had to offer. I loved the look of the “Yes, absolutely. I wrote about it in my book. In the ‘60s I was campus, but more importantly the relationship between faculty working in Greensboro, N.C., and was in Woolworth’s at the lunch and students was more personal, more familial, than in other counter when some black students came in and sat down. It never places. I felt at home there.” occurred to me they wouldn’t be served. I saw blacks shopping in the store and getting food from the take-out counter. I had a Q. What brought you to WKU? carton done for that day and so I thought about it for a couple of “I transferred from the University of Miami on a football days. I wanted to criticize management. I drew an empty stool, scholarship. Their offense was not suited to me. I was more a which didn’t represent management. I could kick myself up and drop-back-and-pass quarterback, rather than a running one. My down for drawing it. [The image] wasn’t strong enough. I let high school coach sent me to Western.” (An NCAA record setter, myself be compromised by reading editorials on the subject. I Sanders had a 66.7% pass completion record in 1953.) haven’t done that again.”

ARTS & LETTERS 18 SPRING 2013 Whitey Sanders was born on October 14, 1930, in Springfield, Tenn., and was an All Star athlete in high school and, later, a standout quarterback for WKU’s football team. His journalistic career started as commanding officer of the Pacific Stars and Stripes Army Unit in Seoul, Korea, in 1955. He worked for the Greensboro Daily News as a political cartoonist, moved to the Kansas City Star, where he was nationally syndicated, and to The Milwaukee Journal, from which he retired in 1991. Sanders said he is slowly giving all his cartoon Q. Which pre-cartooning historical figure would you most like originals to WKU. The Whitey Sanders Collection is to have caricatured and why? housed in the Kentucky Museum. His bronze statue “Before my cartooning career, Harry Truman, mainly because I of coach E.A. Diddle is prominently displayed at the think he was an excellent president. He was a gutsy man of the arena. In 1997, he was inducted into the WKU Hall people. I also truly admired Franklin Roosevelt.” of Distinguished Alumni.

Q. What is the role of a cartoonist in today’s multi-media news culture? Jo-Ann Huff Albers, founding director of the WKU School of Journalism & Broadcasting, taught “Regardless of the medium, a political cartoon is a vehicle for her last class at WKU in May 2007 and on August opinion. The cartoonist is a critic, and there should be no doubt 30 moved back to the Cincinnati area where she where he stands.” had worked for The Cincinnati Enquirer for 20 years Q. How do you see editorial cartooning influencing other areas in various capacities, including Kentucky executive of art? editor. Between leaving The Enquirer in May 1981 and coming to Bowling Green in May 1987, she was “Through history, art and cartooning are compatible. The editor and publisher of Sturgis Journal in Michigan predecessors of cartoonists were painters and pamphleteers. In and Public Opinion in Chambersburg, Pa., and the late 20th century, the tools of cartooning were different – pen Gannett general news executive, working with and ink and a more comic style. Historically, caricatures contained Gannett News Service and USA Today. Her personal more realistic, artistic rendering. Today they are more abstract. professional files are part of the National Women and Both are rooted in the same techniques.” Media Collection at the University of Missouri. Q. Should your craft be taught in an art major or journalism major?

“Political cartooning is more closely aligned to journalism than to art. It’s very much like writing a column. You have to do research, know what you’re talking about. It’s not just a light bulb going off. The idea is the most important thing. A poor idea is never successful because of the drawing.”

Q. What advice would you give current or prospective students?

“You really need a solid educational foundation, not art training. Go to a university. Get background in history and social sciences.”

Some of Whitey Sanders’ work is on display as part of the new Instruments of American Excellence exhibit at the Kentucky Museum.

ARTS & LETTERS 19 SPRING 2013 International Reach to the London School of Economics BY EDWARD YAGER

There are many productive ways in which PCAL Ronald Coase, Amartya Sen, and Paul Krugman. John faculty contribute to the university’s imperative to be F. Kennedy once attended the LSE and so did Mick “A Leading American University with International Jagger, though Jagger may have learned his music Reach.” One faculty member, Professor Edward elsewhere. Yager (Political Science), has attempted to advance In contrast to Oxford and Cambridge, the LSE this imperative during the past six years by cultivating is truly an international institution with students a relationship with The London School of Economics drawn from around 145 countries. Only about 15 and Political Science (LSE). Beginning in the summer percent of the 9,000 student enrollment is from North of 2006 with a WKU research grant and then again in America. So, in Dr. Yager’s view, simply maintaining 2011-12 with a one-year sabbatical leave, Dr. Yager a relationship with the LSE would give even greater has worked with LSE scholars and students in what meaning to WKU’s international reach. has become a very productive scholarly partnership Not long after returning from England in 2006, “across the pond.” Dr. Yager discovered another opportunity at the LSE Only a couple of months after the release of his that promised to enhance his expertise in his second book “Ronald Reagan’s Journey” (2006), Dr. Yager chosen subfield--political philosophy. His teaching left for the LSE to work with Dr. Cheryl Schonhardt- and research interests converged very well with a Bailey on a sequel project to the book, an automated one year formal program of study at the LSE that textual analysis of major Reagan speeches. Another promised to provide intensive work in the primary LSE scholar, Saadi Lahlou, joined the research source documents of John Locke, David Hume, F.A. project, and eventually the work was published in Hayek, Sir Isaiah Berlin, Sir Karl Popper, and others. the premier journal on the American presidency, A one-year sabbatical would provide sufficient time Presidential Studies Quarterly. This collaborative to develop several different research projects to effort was so rewarding that Dr. Yager began to be presented at professional conferences and then explore additional opportunities for scholarly work at advanced to journal publication. the LSE. Dr. Yager began planning this endeavor and it The London School of Economics and Political all came together for him in 2011-12, when he was Science is a specialist institution in the social awarded a one-year sabbatical to study at the LSE. sciences located in downtown London. A total of Living arrangements for Dr. Yager and his wife, 16 Nobel Prize winners in economics, peace, and Marie, were made through Harlaxton College, and literature have been either LSE staff or alumni, the couple resided at the Harlaxton Manor Gatehouse including Bertrand Russell, Friedrich von Hayek, during their one-year stay in England.

ARTS & LETTERS 20 SPRING 2013 Among the five research projects he has worked political philosophy, and American government. on at the LSE, Dr. Yager has a particular interest Already he is planning to return to Harlaxton College in three of them. One project examines Scottish in May 2014 to teach a three-week course tentatively philosopher David Hume’s influence on James entitled “Karl Marx, John Locke and Rival Worldviews.” Madison’s argument for the “extended republic” in The course will include a visit to Oxford University, “Federalist #10.” A second project explores John where Locke studied and taught; a visit to the British Locke’s writings for his foundational views on Museum, where Marx wrote “Das Kapital”; and guest liberty and equality, the Marxist critique of Locke’s lectures by scholars from Oxford and the LSE. The views, and rejoinders in the secondary literature to course promises to introduce students to two of the the Marxist critique. And Dr. Yager’s third project is greatest and most influential thinkers in modern times. his favorite. This research project closely examines And, it just so happens, Harlaxton is close enough Locke’s “Letter Concerning [Religious] Toleration to London for Dr. Yager to continue to maintain (1689),” its career in Western civilization, and the WKU’s international reach to The London School of scholarly debate in the secondary literature on Economics and Political Science. the nature and importance of various arguments Locke advances within the “Letter” to his overall case for religious toleration. Dr. Yager finds that an important part of the career of Locke’s “Letter” is not just Locke’s second argument, which advances the view that government coercion is ineffective in altering religious beliefs, but language from Locke’s first and third arguments. In these arguments Locke strongly intimates that individuals have a personal responsibility or duty to their Creator that cannot be delegated or alienated to another, including the magistrate or government official. In Locke’s view this fact of nature suggests the importance of religious Edward Yager is a professor of political science toleration by government. Dr. Yager finds that this at WKU. In his 21 years at WKU, Dr. Yager has taught argument is nearly identical to the one advanced by courses on the American presidency, American political James Madison nearly a century later in his famous thought, American government, and political theory. “Memorial and Remonstrance.” However, Madison He is the author of “Ronald Reagan’s Journey” and has takes Locke’s argument even further as a fundamental published in Presidential Studies Quarterly, Politics, natural right to religious liberty. National Civic Review, and other outlets. He is a past Dr. Yager anticipates that his work at the LSE will president of the Kentucky Political Science Association. not only result in several journal publications, but will His Ph.D. is in political science from the University of enhance his courses in American political thought, California at Santa Barbara.

ARTS & LETTERS 21 SPRING 2013 STUDY ABROAD

ARTSARTS && LETTERSLETTERS 2222 SPRINGSPRING 20132013 WKU CUBA IN CUBA BY WALKER RUTLEDGE

During the 2013 Winter Term, Jerry Barnaby and I had the pleasure of co-leading WKU’s first study tour of Cuba. Our group experiences were wonderfully joyful and wonderfully troubling--ed- ucational in the true sense—in that they succeeded university or technical school, his or her expenses in breaking down the pre-conceived, black-and- are covered. A college professor or physician, white, dualistic notions that we Americans often however, is typically paid the equivalent of $25 harbor toward our Caribbean neighbor. per month. Yes, per month! What this means Before departure, the students had read is that a waiter, tour guide, or taxi driver—i.e., three novels and twenty-six essays, and were someone who has access to tourist currency—may prepared to make two oral presentations and earn vastly more than the professional. Or, of write four reports. Surely there could be no course, the professional may work as a waiter or surprises after such research. Ah, not so! From cab driver during his or her off-hours. the moment we arrived in Havana, we were 5) As suggested, the Cuban economy depends challenged to articulate Cuba’s complexity— heavily upon tourism. In fact, over three million which often expressed itself in such enigmas and visitors came last year, the majority from Canada. contradictions as the following: Sadly—and all-too-obviously—ample food is 1) Cubans live longer than Americans and available in the hotels and restaurants, while local have a lower infant-mortality rate, but by our stan- Cubans have to get by on their state allotments of dards, they live in abject poverty. Yes, healthcare is rice, beans, and certain other commodities. universal, and there are more physicians per capita 6) Cuba may be the safest place on earth since in Cuba than in any other country in the world. But guns are outlawed. Our students felt completely the medical equipment that these physicians often at ease walking down dark, cobblestone streets have available was dated a half-century ago. late at night. And yet, personal freedom is 2) Despite the poverty, there are no homeless severely limited. Only 5% of the population owns people living on the streets in Cuba. In fact, it is against the law not to have a dwelling. With state assistance, most Cubans pay no rent. But there are often three generations of family members liv- ing in a single, crumbling unit. 3) Literacy is virtually 100% in Cuba, while ac- Jerry by Photo Barnaby cording to the National Institute of Literacy, 47% of the population in Detroit, Michigan, is functionally illiterate. On the other hand, access to books and internet materials is severely limited in Cuba. To the surprise of our guide, the students’ knowledge of her nation’s rich and troubled history exceeded that of most of her countrymen. 4) Education is also universal in Cuba. If Left to right: Will Garcia, Kaitlynn Smith, and Sarah Fox. one meets the entrance requirements to attend a

ARTS & LETTERS 23 SPRING 2013 automobiles, and a person must have government permission to purchase a new one. Sixty and seventy-year-old “Yank tanks” are readily evident on the streets. 7) What perhaps needs to be Photo by Walker Rutledge Walker by Photo emphasized more than anything else, though, is that despite the enumerated complications, the Cuban people greeted us with amazing hospitality and genuine warmth. As soon as they learned that we were from Estados Unidos, they immediately wanted to strike up a conversation or invite the students to participate in a dance. As individuals, we Early morning “Yank tanks” could not have felt more welcomed. It was hard to believe that our governments were at odds with each other. As a couple of students observed, they doubted that they had taken in so much information in such a short length of time since they were infants. Our Photo by Jerry by Photo Barnaby readings and field trips took us across the breadth of Cuban culture—from politics to literature, from Che Guevara to Ernest Hemingway, from agriculture to the cigar industry, from the Bay of Pigs to the Straits of Florida. We were also keenly aware that we were at the cusp of major changes that are rapidly occurring in this island nation. Will it be Americanized when the WKU students interact with local children at a rural school. embargo is lifted (not if but when)? Will it become another Cancún, another vacation destination populated with all the fast- food restaurants of home? Because these fears are realistic, we returned grateful for having had the opportunity to experience Cuba when we did. Photo by Jerry by Photo Barnaby

Having taught an Honors Hemingway & Faulkner course on this campus for over twenty years, I have long wanted to take a group to Hemingway’s Finca Vigia estate outside Havana. That goal was wonderfully realized during Winter Term 2013. And I am happy to report that the estate has been splendidly maintained since the writer’s departure in 1960. Indeed, it is just as if he stepped out and will be returning momentarily. Around 10,000 books that he left behind are neatly arranged on his library shelves, and trophies of his two African safaris overlook every room. Outside, his boat, The Pilar, Finca Vigia, home of Ernest Hemingway, outside of Havana. faithfully awaits its captain. Our group was ready to head to the Gulf Stream with him.

ARTS & LETTERS 24 SPRING 2013 STUDYING MUSICAL GHANA THEATER IN GHANA BY JORDAN CAMPBELL

The smell of fresh fish baking on an open flame. The sound of a strong beat coming from the stereos in the cars that swiftly pass. The radiant colors of the wildlife and foliage. These are the first sensations one might experience when visiting Ghana. In the fall of 2012, with the help of several scholarships—namely, the Gilman Program, WKU’s F.U.S.E. (Faculty-Undergraduate Student Engagement) Grant, the WKU Honors Scholarship and the World Topper scholarship— I was able to travel to Accra, Ghana, on the Golden Coast of West Africa to study at the University of Ghana’s School of Performing Arts. What an amazing journey! My time in Ghana was life changing. Not only did I make friends that I will keep for a lifetime, I connected on a very personal level with people from across the globe. I had the Photo by Jordan Campbell Jordan by Photo

ARTS & LETTERS 25 SPRING 2013 ARTS & LETTERS 26 SPRING 2013 wonderful opportunity to work with the West their religious practices (69% of Ghanaians are Africa AIDS Foundation, creating a performance Christian) and their national theatre, in many ways piece for presentation on World AIDS Day. I the culture and people have not fully recovered periodically met with children who were HIV/ economically and socially from colonial rule, and AIDS positive, some of whom were terminally Ghanaians strenuously resent this influence. I ill. We worked on songs, dances, poetry and realized that this is something I could never fully even paintings. Many of these children couldn’t understand unless I was raised and educated in speak English, but I learned a powerful lesson this culture and with these people. in connections based on expression and body Although I had many “fun” moments in language. A smile transcends all languages and Ghana, my trip was full of tough, gritty life-lesson cultures! Seeing these children play and grow was moments that I am extremely thankful for as well. truly humbling. The average temperature (even in December) was Not only did I learn about the African way about 96 degrees. For days at a time, the campus of life, I realized how blessed we are here in the water would be out. That means no teeth brushing United States to have what we have. During one and no showers. If the water happened to be class period, a child who was extremely ill couldn’t running, we enjoyed our ICE cold showers. No play with the other children due to exhaustion. hot water! Also, I encountered the challenges Still, he stayed strong and smiled as he watched of being a racial minority from day one. As a

My time in Ghana was life changing. Not only did I make friends that I will keep for a lifetime, I connected on a very personal level with people from across the globe.

us play. Moments like this are what make me presumably wealthy white man, I was targeted remember to be grateful for the amazing lives we with products for sale and pleas for charity. Of constantly take for granted. course, as an American I was relatively wealthy, As a musical theatre performer, I was also but Ghanaians do have a kind of wealth: they honored with the opportunity to perform in the depend highly on faith, family and community annual musical at the university, where I studied to bring joy into their lives. Although the African African theatre and dance. Of course, the African life can be inconvenient and tough, it can also be theatre tradition is quite different than America’s, quite peaceful and refreshing. The people and so I attempted to learn as much of their style and places of Ghana enriched my life more than I ever culture as possible while still utilizing much of my would have imagined. own training. This created a wonderful platform for cross-cultural discussion. For more information about Jordan’s African In class and through interaction with experience, visit his blog at jordancampbellghana. Ghanaian performers, I learned about some of the blogspot.com. For more information about the continuing paradoxes that resulted from Ghana’s scholarships available to WKU students planning colonial history. Though the Europeans influenced to study abroad, visit wku.edu/studyabroad.

ARTS & LETTERS 27 SPRING 2013 Arts & Letters Department Notes

Art Professor Lindsay Oesterritter, her ceramic In the six years Dr. Jennifer majors, regional craft artists, and interested Mize Smith has been teaching community members fired the Department of Art’s COMM 349, she has turned the second load of pottery in a new wood-fired kiln Small Group Communication at the WKU farm site. The kiln was designed and course into not only a beneficial built with the assistance teaching tool, but also a way of Professor Ted Neal of for WKU students to give back Ball State University. His to the community. Dr. Mize so-called “train-kiln” (note Smith selected a project known as the $100 Solution the kiln’s resemblance so students can see the benefits and interact with to a train’s engine) uses the people they are helping. The $100 Solution is wood to slowly build unique because it gives students the challenge of up heat. When the kiln teaming up with a local organization in need of reaches the appropriate temperature, ashes help, and then assisting the organization with a from the wood begin to fuse with the raw clay $100 budget. The budget helps to teach students that body, producing a variety of browns, black, red- a large amount of money is not necessary to make oranges, purples and luster surfaces. For further a difference for others. The project also gives them information about this kiln and the department’s the opportunity to be actively involved in the service, next firing, contact Professor Oesterritter at from identifying the problem to implementing the [email protected]. solution. Examples of student projects include hosting a ‘healthy eating’ workshop for the Boys and Communication Girls Club of Bowling Green and planting a garden Recent graduate Brandon Evilla was for the residents of a Bowling Green nursing home. nominated by the Department of Communication faculty to be Potter College of Arts and Letters’ English representative in the Student Government This spring will see the debut of the English Association’s Society of Distinguished Graduates. department’s new scholarly undergraduate journal, Mr. Evilla was deserving of this award for many The Ashen Egg, featuring the best critical essays reasons, and his resilient efforts throughout his on literature, rhetoric, linguistics, film, and popular undergraduate years at WKU have more than paid culture by current WKU students. off. Over the years, Mr. Evilla has been active in In July, Judith Szerdahelyi presented a paper Housing & Residence Life, served on the Resident entitled “Innovative Techniques and Technologies: Staff Association’s executive board, and completed Multisensory Assessment in a Web-Based Writing an internship at the ALIVE Center. Mr. Evilla is Course” in Barcelona, Spain. planning to attend Ball State in fall 2013, and has In the recent issue of Studies in Self-Access an interview for an assistantship position. Learning, Alex Poole published a study examining the metacognitive reading knowledge of Chinese university students. http://sisaljournal.org/issues/

ARTS & LETTERS 28 SPRING 2013 Wes Berry’s “The Kentucky bronze medals. After the test, many of the students Barbecue Book” is now available tour the campus and so return home with a taste of from the University Press of Kentucky. life on the Hill. Wes is also the local host of WBKO’s “Go Local,” a segment of The Local Modern Languages Traveler, a television show featuring Chaz Arnold’s “Aha” moment about the Kentucky and Tennessee personalities, products, importance of learning a second language occurred and food and drink destinations. as he was a high school junior. One day, while at the doctor’s office for a routine checkup, he noticed Folk Studies and Anthropology a woman with a sick child. Chaz saw that she was Dr. Michael Ann Williams, Head of the unable to communicate with the receptionist due to Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology, was a language barrier, and as frustration grew on both elected president of the American Folklore Society in sides, the woman gathered her child and left the December. She will serve as president-elect for 2013 doctor’s office. At WKU, Chaz is a double major in and then begin a two-year term as president. She is Spanish and Biology who intends to go to medical the first Kentucky-based AFS president since Herbert school. Chaz described in an essay about his “Aha” Halpert (then chair of the English Department at moment how his experiences in Modern Languages Murray State) was elected president in 1955. Brent are preparing him for success in his chosen career Björkman, Assistant Research Professor in Folk field: “I have participated in medical interpreting Studies, was elected to the AFS Board of Directors. at free local Hispanic health fairs and am studying WKU will be well represented in folklore’s national in Spain this summer to refine my speaking skills. scholarly and professional society. More than anything, I wish to develop a greater The Kentucky Folklife Program, formerly an sense of confidence in my speaking ability so that interagency program of the Kentucky Historical I may provide high-quality care to the fastest- Society and the Kentucky Arts Council, relocated growing population within my community.” to Western Kentucky University in the summer of Chaz Arnold’s Spanish professor, Dr. Sonia Lenk, 2012. The program, which has been in operation encouraged Chaz to share his story in an essay since 1988, will continue to document and present contest sponsored by Cengage Publishing. Chaz the traditional arts and culture of all the people was one of thirteen students across the United of Kentucky. The new director is Brent Björkman, States to be named a Student Ambassador and assistant research professor in Folk Studies. In recognized in the Viajes Spanish language textbook October 2012, the Kentucky Folklife Program’s and on its web site. Chaz partnered with WKU archive was transferred to the WKU Folklife Archive nursing student Hannah Johnson to host a Hispanic in the Kentucky Building. The staff and graduate Health Fair at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bowling students are currently working to make this new Green in early April 2013. collection accessible to researchers. Dr. Sonia Lenk organized a “Tracing the Unexplored” Lecture Series on the topic of History Cuba in spring 2013. With support from Modern For 40 years the History Department has hosted Languages, the Office of International Programs, an academic contest for middle and high school and several other departments across campus, students from Kentucky and northern Tennessee. four special events related to Cuba were planned. This year’s competition, held in Diddle Arena, drew The centerpiece of the series was a showing of the 800 eager participants. The high school student film documentary “La Maestra: The Cuban Literacy who scores highest on the test, which consists of Campaign through the Eyes of a Teacher.” Present 70 multiple choice questions and an essay exam, is for the showing and discussion on February 25 awarded a $1000 scholarship, and the top middle were the film’s producer, Catherine Murphy, and school student, a $500 scholarship. The first and Norma Guillard, one of the teachers featured in the second place winners receive engraved plaques, documentary. Additional events are publicized on while all students in the next 5% earn silver and the WKU news blog.

ARTS & LETTERS 29 SPRING 2013 Modern Languages is adding more levels to the eight languages it offers. Assistant Professor of Chinese Dr. Ke Peng has developed a fully articulated Chinese curriculum that guides students from the beginning to advanced levels. Chinese major and minor programs are currently in the approval process. The regular rotation of Chinese courses is designed to help students build their proficiency. Dr. Peng posted some of the creative products of student learning on the WKU Chinese Program YouTube channel. The Arabic Program, headed by Assistant Professor Dr. David DiMeo, is also adding courses and has established a regular rotation. Students who have begun or who begin their study of Arabic now will be able to continue to the advanced Music students in The Voice in Performance program levels. Study abroad is strongly recommended to all students who wish to build their proficiency. the creation of loud and soft sounds, as well as WKU student Emmett Stephens began his study crescendo and decrescendo. of Arabic in Morocco, continued at WKU, and was The second performance took place at the later awarded a Critical Language Scholarship for Allen County Primary Center, impacting 300 additional study of Arabic in Egypt. He explained students, and was presented by John Martin, WKU why study abroad has been so valuable to him: guitar professor, and Mark Berry, WKU percussion “The greatest thing about studying abroad is professor. “Rhythm and Style,” performed by meeting new people, and that is why learning a this guitar and steeldrum duo, included music foreign language is so important. You are only one from Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and North America. small language gap away from being able to learn Discussions centered around style as it related to something from [and about] millions of people.” its geographical origins, the meaning of musical style, and how rhythm helps define it. Music The final performance, “Music for Brass,” Allen County Music Informances, sponsored by was presented by Natalie Adcock, adjunct horn the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation, have instructor, and Lee Blakeman, adjunct trombone occurred again this year. Beginning in 2008, this instructor, at the Allen County Primary Center, collaborative project between the WKU Department for 290 students. They demonstrated trombone of Music and The Symphony at WKU has reached slide positions, discussed the harmonic series, hundreds of public school students of all ages. the concept of dynamics, and the hunting horn The goal of these public school performances is to tradition, and played a portion of Mozart’s Second promote music literacy among the children in Allen Horn Concerto, which has been featured on the County, Ky, schools. acclaimed children’s video series “Little Einsteins.” The 2013 Informances consisted of two performances on February 14, 2013. Heidi Álvarez, The Voice in Performance: New York, New York WKU flute professor, and Sarah Berry, WKU cello - From March 8-16, 2013, nine undergraduate professor, collaborated to present “Baroque Music” vocalists traveled to New York City with Liza Kelly, at the Allen County Intermediate Center, impacting voice professor, to participate in the first Study 290 students. As a flute and cello duo, they Away Program in the Department of Music. The demonstrated the characteristics of Baroque music goal of The Voice in Performance program was to such as melody and ornamentation, discussed immerse these students in an all-encompassing musical dynamics, and engaged the students in music and performance experience. The Study

ARTS & LETTERS 30 SPRING 2013 Away course included events such as private Religion and Broadway - “Religion and Broadway” voice lessons, private repertoire coaching, a was a smash hit! The January course offered foreign language diction class, performance by Dr. Joseph Trafton and Paula Trafton has master classes, an expression through music and received rave reviews from the 23 students who performance class, a closing recital performance, participated. Prepared with a host of theoretical and attendance at multiple professional music approaches for thinking about religion, the students events. Students studied with the faculty of The then headed to New York City for a week of Center for Language in Song, who currently teach Broadway shows (eight in total) and conversations or perform at the highest professional level in their with cast members. The Study Away program was field. Classes within The Center for Language in so successful that the Traftons already are planning Song were held at The Opera America Center, a the next excursion. newly constructed and world class studio, audition, and performance venue. Students also attended Theatre & Dance “Othello” at the Metropolitan Opera, “Song of the Holly Berger and Keifer Adkins are partnering Midnight Sun” by the New York Festival of Song with the Kentucky Museum to create interactive and a cabaret show at 54 Below. museum theatre pieces that they presented to school groups this spring. Holly portrays two Philosophy & Religion different schoolteachers from the 1800s and Keifer The Philosophy program at Western Kentucky portrays Daniel Boone. University landed one of the most important The WKU Theatre and Dance Program was interdisciplinary conferences in 2013. Thanks recently notified that it won the Diversion Program to the initiative of Dr. Audrey Anton and with of the Year Award in conjunction with the Court support from her colleagues, WKU hosted the 39th Designated Workers from the Warren County Conference on Value Inquiry. The meeting was held Administrative Office of the Courts. The program April 11-13 on the main campus, and focused on is run as a partnership between the WKU Theatre the theme “Virtue, Vice, and Character.” and Sociology departments and provides juvenile The Society for Value Inquiry organizes a offenders with the opportunity to enroll in a theatre conference each year for the purpose of bringing program in place of community service. They find together those scholars whose work represents a place to channel their energy and perform a differences in interests, outlook, and expertise showcase that they help write and produce. The on questions of value. Participants range from WKU program was funded last year by a PIE Grant, budding scholars to the most esteemed researchers and this year by a $1000 grant from the ALIVE in their fields, and they come from colleges and Center for Community Partnerships. universities all over the world. As one of the largest The WKU Children’s Theatre and Creative and most diverse conferences of its kind, the Dramatics class spent February working with annual Conference on Value Inquiry has a long and the 5th graders at Cumberland Trace Elementary rich history stretching back several decades. Over School. The culmination of this partnership took time, the conference has been organized around a place Thursday, February 28, at Cumberland Trace variety of themes such as business ethics, free will Reading Night when the elementary students and science, globalization, multiculturalism, liberty performed folktales that the WKU students helped and equality. them stage. The principal at Cumberland Trace In addition to the many scholars who shared has been very supportive for the four years this their research in response to the Call for Papers, program has been in existence,” said Carol Jordan, the meeting featured keynote addresses by Dr. Julia Instructor of Theatre and Head of the Children’s Driver and Dr. John Doris, both from Washington Theatre Program. “Elementary schools don’t University in St. Louis. usually have a full time drama teacher, so they are glad we can help with the drama elements in their curriculum.”

ARTS & LETTERS 31 SPRING 2013 International Research Notes

Dr. David DiMeo course (taught in English) covers and lithics specialist from the Dr. David DiMeo, Associate Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist University of Helsinki, Dr. Houle Professor of Arabic in the thought from ancient times to is collaborating with the National Department of Modern Languages, the present day. The course is Museum of Mongolia to study the published the article “Egypt’s Police suitable for advanced students in development of societal complexity State in the Work of Idris and Philosophy, Religious Studies, and among early mobile pastoralists Mahfouz” in CLCWeb: Comparative Asian Religions and Cultures as of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Literature and Culture 15.4 (2012). well as other students who have a Last summer the project began The article examines works by two deep interest in Chinese philosophy. documenting the region’s ritual of Egypt’s leading twentieth-century Dr. Liu received his PhD in August and domestic landscape in order authors on the subject of police 2012 from Hong Kong University to understand territorial behavior oppression in light of the recent of Science and Technology, during this pivotal period in Inner Egyptian revolution. It identifies specializing in Confucianism, Asian prehistory. lessons for the current revolutionary Daoism and Chinese Buddhism. leadership in dealing with the Dr. Deborah Logan lingering effects of police brutality, Dr. Jean-Luc Houle Dr. Deborah Logan, Professor based on the warnings of leading Dr. Jean-Luc Houle, of English, continues to develop Egyptian writers after the previous Assistant Professor in the her research project initiated by Egyptian revolution in 1952. Department of Folk Studies a Fulbright-Nehru India Research and Anthropology, spent over a grant (2012). Focused on colonial Dr. Liu Leheng month last summer conducting era, pre-independence (1947) As part of the Department of archaeological and ethnographic writing by Indian women in English, Philosophy and Religion’s Faculty research in the Altai region of this two-book project offers a Exchange Agreement with Wuhan western Mongolia. Together critical analysis of The Indian University, Dr. Liu Leheng arrived with Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan, Ladies’ Magazine (1901-38) and at WKU in the spring. Dr. Liu is the project’s co-director, Lee an anthology of Indian women’s teaching a survey course on Chinese Broderick, a zooarchaeologist writing, including poetry, fiction, philosophy (PHIL/RELS/ARC 401) from the University of York, and drama, nonfiction, life-writing, during the second bi-term. The Oula Seitsonen, a cartographer and journalism.

of the U.S. Department of State the fall he will begin his Capstone Critical Language Scholarship to Year in China for the Chinese study Chinese intensively overseas, Flagship Program. After one he is currently employing another semester of fulltime coursework language. During the spring of at Nanjing University and a six- 2013, Stovall is researching the month professional internship in politics and economics of the China, he will graduate from WKU. past two Argentinian presidential “I love being able to do research; it’s J.P. Stovall administrations in Buenos Aires as liberating to take a project of your J.P. Stovall is an a foreign policy intern at Fundación own and turn it into a complete undergraduate student of many Pensar, a highly ranked think tank. academic work,” he said. “The words, literally in multiple “I’m focusing on Argentina experiences I have had have made languages. A junior from because it’s a part of Latin America me a very internationally mobile Nashville, Tenn., he is majoring we don’t normally talk about,” he and independent person.” in Spanish, Asian Religions said. “The way politics are shifting Stovall is preparing for a and Cultures, International in Argentina could really have career with the U.S. Foreign Service Affairs and Leadership Studies; significance for the entirety of Latin where he would meet with foreign simultaneously, he is excelling America.” government officials and other in the Chinese Flagship Program Stovall’s travels do not end organizations to advocate on behalf at WKU. A two-time recipient upon returning from Argentina. In of the United States.

ARTS & LETTERS 32 SPRINGFALL 2013 2013 We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Arts & Letters and are as excited as we are about the accomplishments of Potter College’s students, alumni, and faculty. Please make a gift today supporting the Potter College Dean’s Fund for Excellence. Your financial support will provide increased academic opportunities for students within Potter College, including student support for study abroad, research and creative activity, and innovative learning opportunities beyond the classroom. We greatly appreciate your gift. It’s an investment in the future.

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CULTUR AL ENHANCEMENT SERIES 2013-2014

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Stay tuned to www.wku.edu/go/ces and Facebook for the 2013-2014 Like WKU Cultural Enhancement Series on Facebook Cultural Enhancement Series, more events will be announced soon! 2013-2014 Cultural Enhancement Series Celebrating 17 Years www.wku.edu/go/ces